Plug-in switch



Nov. 22, 1938. H M FRIEDMAN 2,137,569

PLUG-IN SWITCH Filed Jan. 1958 INVENTOR 1 H426 M. FP/[DM/IA/ BY W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PLUG-memo r M. Friedman, Bayonne. N. J. Application January a, 1938, Serial No. 184,098 1 Claim. romeo-51 F This invention relates to plugdn switches. It is particularly directed to a combination plug and receptacle connector provided with a switch.

I have found it often necessary, desirable or convenient to interpose a switch in wiring, forexample, between a plug andreceptacle receiving such plug. It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an electric connector in the form of a combination plug and receptacle which may be interposed between separable plugs and sockets or receptacles and which is provided with a switch whereby to make or break the cir-,

cuit through said wiring. Such a connector may be interposed between any plug and socket or receptacle, for example, the plug on an electricappliance and an outlet wall receptacle in which the plug is usually inserted.

A further object 01' this invention is to provide a connector oi the character described which may be connected to any receptacle or outlet- 7 and which is adapted to receive the plug of an electric appliance, the connector provided with a finger operated switch whereby the appliance may be easily switched "on or "o without pulling out the plug.

A further object" of this invention is to provide a compact, strong and durable electric connector of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive td manufacture, easy to manipulate, and practical and efilcient to a' high degree in use.

Other objects oi this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement or parts which will be examplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative em-. bodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side, elevational view 01' a combination plug and receptacle connector provided with a switch, embodying the invention Fig, 2 is a top plan view thereof;

7 Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with the cover removed;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line invention, here shown for the purpose of illustration, in the form of a combination plugand receptacle provided with a finger operated switch which may be interposed between any separable lindrical outer shape. At the top thereof the '15 body, II, is formed with a recess, l2 providing an annular rim edge in. said body, H, is furthermore formed with a pair of longitudinal through'openings I4 and I5 communicating with recess H, on opposite sides of the axis of said 20 body. Attached to the body, II, by means of eyelets or rivets l8 and I! are a pair of spring contacts l8 and I9, projecting into the openings i4 and 15 for engagement with a pair ofplug blades 25 adapted to be received .withinsaid openings. Attached to the blades l8 and I9 bysaid eyelets I6 and i1, is a pair of parallel plug blades 22 and 23. The plug blade 22 is in electrical contact with spring blade l8, whereas the plugao blade 23 is insulated from the spring contact is by an insulating disc or washer 26.

Attached to spring contact I! and plug blade 23 are a pair of spaced spring fingers 26 and 21, respectively, insulated from one another by said as disc or washer 25, but normally pressed together at their outer ends to electrically interconnect said plug blade with said spring contact. The rim wall He of the body II is formed with a slot 30. Pivoted to a pin 3! just inside said rim and adiacent said slot is a switch lever 32 of insulating material, having a handle 33 on the outside at said body, and an insulating blade 34 within recess l2 and adapted to be moved between the spring fingers 2 8, 21 to separate and hence insulate them. It will now be understood that upon manipulating switch lever 32, the circuit through my improved connector may be made or broken at will.

A circular cover 38 formed with parallel slots receiving the plug blades 22, 23, may be screwed to the body ll by an axial screw 38 to cover the recess l2. g It will now be understood that my improved connector or fitting may be interposed between any plug and receptacle where it is desiredto provide switch control. The plug blades may be inserted into the usual slots or openings of an outlet receptacle, and the openings Ii and I6 are adapted to receive the blades of a plug. With my improved connector, immediate switch control may be given to any electric appliance such as a toaster, percolator, electric iron or electric shavers, etc., without-additional wiring or labor. The switch control may be accomplished by plugging my improved connector into a receptacle and inserting the blades of the plug of the electric appliance into the slots l4, l5.

Although my invention is illustrated in the drawing as embodied in a fitting of the plug blade and slot type, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to combination plug and socket fittings of the screw threaded type, it being a dominant feature oi the invention to incorporate a manual switch into a combination plug and socket fitting whereby the switch may be applied at any. point in a duplex cable between a pair of quickly detachable plug and socket fittings.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

ans-mes As various possible embodiments might be made 01 the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

An electric fitting comprising a body of insulating material having a recess at one end thereof, and having a pair of parallel longitudinally extending through slots on opposite sides of the axis of said body and communicating with said recess, a pair of spring contacts, means within said recess securing said contacts to said body, said contacts projecting into said slots, plug blades in the plane of said slots attached to said body and projecting outwardly therebeyond, one of said blades being in electrical engagement with one of said spring contacts, a pair of spring fingers in said recess attached to the other blade and other contact respectively, and normally in contact with one another, and a manual switch pivoted to said body and projecting into said recess for separating said spring fingers to insulate said other blade from said other contact.

. HARRY M. FRIEDMAN. 

